Cyprus News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-07-20

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] President - US Ambassador

[02] Ecevit - Cyprus problem

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

[04] PSEKA - HALO - Turkish invasion

[05] Kyprianou - Italy

[06] House President - Message - Turkish invasion

[07] Ecevit - Denktash - Press Conference

[08] Ukranian Bank - IBU - Cyprus

1600:CYPPRESS:01

[01] President - US Ambassador

Speaking after a farewell meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, Brill also said the US is engaged in "a very serious process" and remains focused on the goals set out by the Group of Eight (G8), with the help of its partners in the international community.

Brill said the US is not taking much heed of public statements politicians or others, involved in the Cyprus problem, make but instead it is trying to pursue its goals and deal with the various issues "seriously in private."

"The work we are involved in is not a publicity exercise or a public relations exercise but an exercise of serious quiet diplomacy that is not going to take place in public," he told the press after a 45-minute long meeting with the President.

Asked if he meant that there may be a change of heart on the part of Ankara, Brill said Cyprus is not unique in the phenomenon of hearing people saying things related to this issue.

"We do not worry so much about what public statements are made or not made by politicians or other people who try to deal with the issues and the goals that we have. We try to pursue them seriously in private," he added.

Asked if the process backed by the G8 for unconditional talks on all issues, taking full consideration of UN resolutions, will proceed as planned, Brill replied "the US is working for a comprehensive negotiating process this Fall and we will continue to work on it in a very serious, steady way with our partners in the international community."

The US, he said, is staying focused on its goals for the Fall. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troop invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

Security Council resolution 1250 requests the UN Secretary-General to invite the leaders of the two sides to negotiations in the autumn of 1999.

Turkey and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash have dismissed it and said negotiations can only take place on a state-to-state basis, contrary to UN resolutions and the rule of law.

CNA MM/EC/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1605:CYPPRESS:02

[02] Ecevit - Cyprus problem

Ecevit, who ruled Turkey in the summer of 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied Cyprus' northern third, has warned that unless a confederal solution is agreed upon, the current division will remain put and Turkey and its puppet regime in occupied Cyprus will further strengthen their links.

Speaking in occupied Nicosia where he watched a parade commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Turkish invasion today, Ecevit called on the G8 group not to get involved in the Cyprus peace effort.

"They have to know that the more they get engaged, the more complex the problem becomes" he said and called for state-to-state talks.

Ecevit's remarks comes in the wake of a recommendation by the Group of Eight Cologne summit to the UN Secretary General to call for talks without any preconditions on all issues and with full consideration of UN relevant resolutions, which provide for a bizonal, bicommunal federal Cyprus with a single sovereignty, citizenship and with its independence and territorial integrity respected.

"As far as the Turkish side is concerned, the federal solution is no longer on the cards," Ecevit said.

The Turkish premier criticised the European Union for paving the way for Cyprus' accession and said if Turkey had any intention of taking over the entire island, it would have done so back in 1974.

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash said he would not bow to any pressure and said he has the full backing of Turkey in efforts to achieve his goal for international recognition of his self styled regime.

CNA MM/EC/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1605:CYPPRESS:03

[03] Cyprus Stock Exchange

      CSE General Index                         212.83 ( 4.91)

      Traded Value            CYP 37,628,624

      Sectural Indices

      Banks                   CYP10,602,421     274.51 ( 5.37)
      Approved Investment
      Companies               CYP   916,593     104.11 ( 9.19)
      Insurance Companies     CYP   491,537      95.26 ( 2.63)
      Manufacturing Companies CYP 1,504,787     104.53 ( 1.23)
      Tourism Companies       CYP 8,381,282     193.30 ( 5.74)
      Trading Companies       CYP 3,015,359     114.85 (-1.09)
      Other Companies         CYP 2,947,186     189.37 ( 5.31)

CNA EC/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1610:CYPPRESS:04

[04] PSEKA - HALO - Turkish invasion

In a message for the 25th anniversary of the Turkish invasion, Christopher said that "although through the years we have not been frightened off by the success of the affluent Turkish lobby or the general indifference of the international community, many of us have been overtaken by the feeling of complacency...and that our energies should be directed elsewhere".

Christopher referred to the drama of the people of Cyprus, especially the refugees, the enclaved and the relatives of missing persons, adding that "these embittered and downridden individuals cannot afford to have us give up".

Meanwhile, the Hellenic American Leaders and Organisations (HALO) and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, in letters to US President, Bill Clinton, which are signed by the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of America, Spyridon, say that "the US must play the major role in bringing together all of the interested parties, in order to arrive at a just solution for Cyprus".

In their letters, they note that a solution to the Cyprus problem would "better secure America's security interests in the region" and that "the parametres for a Cyprus solution are already at hand, embodied in the relevant UN resolutions and the high level agreements of 1977 and 1979".

They also say that a solution is in the hands of Clinton and that a settlement "can allow Cyprus to again become a shining example" of a world "governed by the principles of ethnic and religious tolerance, multiculturalism, democracy and full respect of human rights".

CNA RG/EC/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1620:CYPPRESS:05

[05] Kyprianou - Italy

During his three-day stay, Kyprianou will meet with Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Senate President Nicola Mancino and Deputy Foreign Minister Achille Occhetto.

Kyprianou today described his visit as "very useful", pointing out that Italy is a member of the Group of Eight (G8) which last month issued a statement on Cyprus.

The House president further said Violante plays an important role both in internal and international affairs.

The G8 (seven most industrialised countries and Russia) expressed their backing to unconditional talks on all issues comprising the Cyprus problem, taking full consideration of relevant UN resolutions and treaties.

CNA FZ/MCH/EC/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1930:CYPPRESS:06

[06] House President - Message - Turkish invasion

In a message to his counterparts on the occasion of 25 years since the Turkish invasion and occupation of the island's northern third, Kyprianou pointed out Turkey's attempts to promote a solution outside the framework of UN resolutions and high level agreements, stressing this would lead to the destruction of Cyprus as an independent sovereign state.

The Turkish side has demanded, since last summer, the establishment of a confederation of two states on the island despite repeated UN resolutions calling for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with one international character and identity.

Kyprianou said Turkey scorns UN resolutions and the will of the international community for a Cyprus settlement, adding that there should be no double standards in combating violation of international law and human rights.

Referring to the continuing violation of human rights in Cyprus by Turkey and especially to its policy of ethnic cleansing, Kyprianou stressed that if the international community took drastic measures to end it, similar situations elsewhere would have been avoided.

Despite Turkish intransigence and lack of good will for a solution, the Cyprus government and the political leadership have been dedicated to a just settlement on the basis of UN resolutions, Kyprianou added.

He also noted that Cyprus' proposal for demilitarisation of the island was rejected by the Turkish side.

Decisive international action in the direction of Turkey would discourage the country from continuing with its expansionist plans, Kyprianou added.

CNA MCH/EC/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2010:CYPPRESS:07

[07] Ecevit - Denktash - Press Conference

Ecevit, who ordered the Turkish invasion of July 20th, 1974, is on a one day illegal visit to the Turkish occupied areas on the occasion of 25 years of gross human rights' violations against the people of the island by Turkey.

In the most provocative manner, the architect of Cyprus' division claimed that "as long as the Greek Cypriots live under the impression that there will be a return to the pre-July 1974 era, coming to an agreement and achieving anything is difficult".

In a joint communique Ecevit and Dentkash claim the latter's demand for a confederation of two states in Cyprus "opens" the way for a viable solution.

The Turkish side's demand runs contrary to repeated UN and other international bodies' resolutions for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation in Cyprus with one international personality.

The communique also says that Turkey and the breakaway regime, will sign an agreement for "special relations" between them.

Such an action runs contrary to UN Security Council resolutions which describe the attempt of creating a so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" as "legally invalid" and calls upon all states not to recognise it (resolution 541) and "not to facilitate or in any way assist" it, (resolution 550).

Replying to questions Ecevit also said that the issue of Varosha, the new town of Famagusta inhabited by Greek Cypriots before 1974, should be re- examined. The Turkish side has repeatedly talked about settling Varosha.

UN Security Council resolution 550 "considers attempts to settle Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN".

Ecevit and Denktash repeated their criticism against the European Union for holding accession talks with Cyprus and threatened that the closer Cyprus gets to the EU the closer the illegal entity will get to Turkey.

CNA SA/RG/MCH/EC/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2025:CYPPRESS:08

[08] Ukranian Bank - IBU - Cyprus

Privatbank is one of the first private commercial banking institutions established in the Ukraine and has managed over a short period of time to build up a substantial branch network.

The bank will deal only in foreign currencies and transact business only with other non-resident entities and individuals in Cyprus and abroad.

It will also be subject to the supervision and inspection of the Central Bank of Cyprus and the National Bank of the Ukraine, the country's central bank.

According to an official announcement, so far, 33 IBUs are operating from within Cyprus as well as four representative offices of foreign banks.

Other foreign banks have also expressed a similar interest in establishing IBUs in Cyprus and more banking business licences are expected to be granted in the near future.

CNA MCH/EC/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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